Trolley pole



TROLLEY POLE Filed Nov.

' ATToRNEY Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED. STATES EDMUND S. TILLINGHAST,OF CARSON LAKE, MINNESOTA TROLLEY PQLE Application filed November 5,1930. Serial No. 493,626.

This invention relates to poles especially designed for use as trolleypoles on small electric locomotives or motors of the type ordinarilyused in mines.

; An object of the present invention is to provide a pole which will notbreak, and thus eliminate danger from this source which is present inpoles constructed of wood or metal, as Well as the danger arising frombroken or j damaged electric conductor wires'.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pole which isconstructed of insulating material in which the conductor wires areembedded so as to eliminate danger 15, of poorly insulated wires whichare usually so arranged that a workman may receive a shock.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pole which whilevnormally straight, will bend upon contact with a mine cap timber, orother obstruction.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includesthe following novel features and details of construction,

to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a trolley pole constructed in accordancewith the invention and showing a harp and trolley wheel attached.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pole per se. Y

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing iny detail wherein like characters of referencedenote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates a polewhich may be of any suitable length and dia-meter, the pole beingespecially designed for use upon mine locomotives. The pole is made of aflexible insulating material such as rubber, and may be vulcanized to adegree to prevent bending under normal conditions but to permit bendingshould the pole strike an obstruction. The pole is provided with alongitudinal bore 11 for the passa-ge of conductor wires 12. An opening13 which communicates with the bore 11 provides for the introduction ofthese wires, while an opening 14 at the outer end of the pole providesan outlet for the wires. The pole thus forms an insulating housing forthe conductor wires substantially throughout theV length of the pole, sothat a workman coming in contact with the pole will not come in contactwith the conductor wires. In addition, the conductor wires being housedwithin the pole, cannot have their insulation damaged by rubbing orstriking obstructions.

By making the pole of rubber it will be normally straight, havingsufficient rigidity to carry the trolley harp 15 and wheel 16, 65 butsufficient flexibility to bend when striking an obstruction. Dangerattendant upon the breakage of wooden and metal poles is thus avoided.

If desired, the pole may be provided with reinforcing wires or rods 17which will permit the pole to be made of easily bendable material, thewires yieldingly holding the pole straight until the pole comes incontact with an obstruction.

It is to be understood that the pole may be made of any flexibleinsulating material. For example, it may be made entirely of rubber, orit may be made of layers of rubber and fabric, after the manner of steamhose, or automobile tire construction.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportionsand minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved tomake such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appendedlclaims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a trolley pole comprising arelatively sti benda-ble body made from'rubber and having a longitudinalcentral bore, and angularly disposed wire outlet passages leading fromthe bore through one side of the pole adjacent the opposite endsthereof.

2. As a new article ofmanufacture,atrolley pole comprising a tubularbody formed from relatively still rubber having a longitudinal centralbore and angularly disposed wire outlet passages leading from the borethrough one side of the pole adjacent the ends thereof, and meansembedded in the body coneentrieally about said bore to yield- 5 ablyresist bending action of the body.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

EDMUND S. TILLINGHAST.

